Former Cisco and Avaya executive Karl Meulema has joined Riverbed Technology as the company's new senior vice president of global channels, just days after Riverbed said it will start exploring its strategic options.

Bruce Klein, SVP of Cisco's Worldwide Partner Organization, told CRN in a recent interview that the networking giant is preparing to launch a software partner program at its 2015 Partner Summit this April in Montreal.

XChange Solution Provider 2015 is finally upon us and the timing couldn't be better. The premier channel event is happening March 1-3 in Dallas, bringing together 225 solution provider decision makers from across North America. CRN is at the event to provide news, analysis and a firsthand take from partners.